Vehicle safety belts and harnesses and buckles for them

ABSTRACT

A buckle for safety belt or harness for a vehicle has two parts, one part comprising a plate with an aperture and the other part comprising a unit having a slidable member which has a cam bearing on a lever, the lever being connected to a latch having a tooth which engages the aperture in the plate to hold the two parts of the buckle together. One end of the second part consists of the end of the slidable member and a mouth where the plate enters the unit. The slidable element is moved by hand to release the unit, the cam pressing the lever down to raise the latch to move the tooth out of engagement with the aperture in the plate. A spring ejects the plate when it is released, and a switch is operated when the plate is not in position in the unit to signal that the belt or harness is unlocked or to immobilise the vehicle, for example by opening the ignition circuit.

United States Patent I BEST AVAILABLE copy Lewis July 15, 1975 [54] VEHICLE ET BELTS AND HARNESSES 3,693,221 9/1972 Cunningham 24 230 A AND BUCKLES FOR THEM FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [75] Inventor: John Christopher Lewis, Sevenoaks, 194,539 2/1965 Sweden 24/230 A England Primarv Examiner-Bernard A. Gelak 73 A :H dWllL td,L d l 1 Sslgnee owar a m" e on on Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Shoemaker and Mattare England [22] Filed: Nov. 20, 1973 57 ABSTRACT [21] Appl. No.: 417,482 A buckle for safety belt or harness for a vehicle has two parts, one part comprising a plate with an aper- 30 F A P Dat ture and the other part comprising a unit having a slidorelgn pp y a able, member which has a cam bearing on a lever, the Nov. 30, 1972 UnIted Kmgdom 55317/72 lever being connected to a latch having a tooth which engages, the aperture in the plate to hold the two parts [52] US. Cl; ZOO/61.58 B; 24/230 A of theibuckle together o end f the Second part [51] Int. Cl. A44B 11/25 consists of the end of the id member and a [58] Field of Search 24/230 A mouth'where the plate enters the unit The Slidable ement is, moved by hand to release the unit, the cam References C'ted pressing the lever down to raise the latch to move the UNITED STATESPATENTS tooth out of engagement with the aperture in the 2.581.557 l/l952 Rozas 24/230 A plate. A p g ejects the plate when it is released, and 3,104,440 9/1963 Davis 24/230 A a switch is operated when the plate is not in position 3,147,819 9/1964 Keleher 24/230 A in the unit to signal that the belt or harness is un- 3 l54,272 10/1964 Gold 24/230 A l ked o to immobilise the vehicle for example by 3.237.710 3/1966 MacDonald I 24 230 A Opening the ignition circuit 3,340,578 9/1967 Straight v 24/230 A I 3,568,268 3/1971 Cunningham 24/230 A 6 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures H l I a V I L I I s 45 4 flmwhnj r c l -f' C. 39 fi \J l 1 |18 g a I 4 4 4: I /I( V 4/ A! x x 0 I2 PATEHTEDJUL l 5 1975 SHEET mm Q VEHICLE SAFETY BELTS AND HARNESSES AND BUCKLES FOR THEM This invention relates to buckles and particularly to buckles for use with safety belts and harnesses such as are used on road vehicles and aircraft.

The invention relates specifically to a buckle for the above use with two separable parts held together by cooperating aperture and latch or notch and latch means provided by the two parts, the latch being controlled by a spring pressed slidable element.

The invention comprises a buckle of the type defined in which one part includes a plate having one or more apertures to which one or more strap end portions can be fitted, and the second part, which includes the slidable element, has means by which the said part can be connected to a road vehicle or aircraft and a mouth into which part of the said plate can be placed, the said slidable element, when in the position in which the two parts are latched together, forming part of the surface of the buckle adjacent the said mouth such that the said slidable element can be moved by hand from that position into a position in which the two parts of the buckle can be separated, the slidable element having a cam surface which co-operates with a lever carried by the said second part to unlatch the said two parts.

The invention also comprises a buckle of the type defined in which one part includes a plate having one or more apertures to which one or more strap end portions can be fitted, and the second part, which includes the slidable element, has means by which the said part can be connected to a road vehicle or aircraft and a co operating into which part of the said plate can be placed, the said slidable element, when in the position in which the two parts are latched together forming part of the surface of the buckle adjacent the said mouth such that the said slidable element can be moved by hand from that position into a position in which the two parts of the buckle can be separated, the slidable element having a cam surface which, when the slidable element is moved towards the releasing position moves a lever carried by the said second part which lifts a latch from a coloperatoperating aperture in the said plate to allow the plate to be released.

The invention also comprises a buckle of the type defined in which one part includes a plate having one or more apertures to which one or more strap end portions can be fitted and at least one aperture cooperating with a latch carried by the second part, and the second part, which includes the slidable element, has means by which the said part can be connected to a road vehicle or aircraft and a mouth into which part of the said plate can be placed, the said slidable element when in the position in which the two parts are latched together, forming part of the surface of the buckle adjacent the said mouth such that the said slidable element can be moved by hand from that position into a position into which the two parts of the buckle can be separated, the slidable element having a cam surface which, when the slidable element is moved towards the releasing position causes the latch to be lifted from the aperture in the said plate.

A buckle according to the invention can also include means for ejecting the plate when the latch is lifted, means for preventing the plate from moving with the latch, and means for indicating that the two parts are not latched together or for preventing movement of the vehicle until the two parts are so latched together.

The invention also includes a safety belt or harness provided with a buckle as defined above and a vehicle when fitted with one or more of the said buckles.

One form of buckle according to this invention is described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is an outside view of one part of the buckle FIG. 2 is a view of the plate for the buckle shown in FIG. 1

FIG. 3A is a section of the buckle shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 with parts united FIG. 3B is a view similar to FIG. 3A, but with the parts released.

FIG. 4 is a plan of the buckle shown in FIG. 3 with the slider removed FIGS. 5 and 6 are plan and elevation of the slider shown in FIG. 3

FIGS. 7 and 8 are side and end elevation of the channel member of the buckle FIGS. 9 and 9A are plan and end elevation of the lever of the buckle shown in the other figures and FIGS. 10 and 10A are plan and end elevation of the latch member of the buckle.

The buckle shown in the Figures comprises a casing 11, and plate 12 to which a safety strap or harness 13 can be attached, a slider 14 mounted on a channel 16, a lever 18 and a latch 17 which enters an aperture 30 in the plate member 12 to hold the plate within the casing. Plate 12 has an aperture 30 which is engaged by tooth 37 of latch 17 and slot 31 by means of which a safety belt or harness 13 is connected to the plate.

Slider 14 is provided with grooves 43 which slide on the flat flanges 41 of channel 16, cam surface 25 which co-operates with lever 18 to release latch 17 when the slider is pressed into the casing and a vertical face 45 which holds the slider in the casing and projection 29 around which spring 15 is located. The spring 15 sits in opening 26 in casing 11.

Channel 16 is provided with a mouth 28, which is flared as shown, two T-pieces 27 which project inwards from the sides of the channel (FIG. 8), and apertures 33 and 34 in which the lever and latch pivots are mounted. The T-pieces 27 provide a ceiling which prevents the plate 12 from lifting when the latch 17 is being released and provide slots which prevent the ejector spring 20 being deflected.

Ejector spring 20 has a fixed end which drops into the slot 32 and is pinched between the casing 11 and the outside of the channel 16.

Latch 17 is provided with a turned up end 39 which guides plate 12 towards the base of the casing l 1, tooth 37 which enters aperture 30 to hold the plate 12 within the casing 11 and bent up members 40 which are engaged by ends 42 of lever 18, when the latch 17 is being released. The latch 17 is inserted into the channel by placing one of its pivots 38 into its pivot hole 33 in channel 16, dropping the second pivot into the hole 34 in the opposite side of the channel and straightening the latch so that both pivots are in line and in the holes 33. The lever pivots 36 are placed in pivot holes 34 by slightly deforming the lever as the pivots 36 are pressed between the sides of channel 16.

Lever 18 has, in addition to pivots 36 and ends 42 referred to above, a bridge 35 which is pressed against cam surface of slider 14 by spring 19. The spring 19 is connected to channel 16 by rivets 21.

The channel is connected to a substantially rigid cable 22 by the swaged on sleeve 23 and plate 24.

In operation, the cable 22 is connected to the floor or other rigid part of a vehicle, and the safety belt or harness is connected by means of the slot 31, to the plate 12. To fasten the harness, plate 12 is pushed into the mouth 28 of the channel 16, the end of the plate is guided uncler tooth 37 of latch 17 by the turned up end 39 of the latch, and the tooth 37 enters the aperture 30 to hold the plate within the casing.

As the plate 12 is pressed into the casing its end operates the micro switch 44 which closes or opens a circuit to indicate to the driver of the vehicle that the two parts of the buckle have been connected.

To release the plate, the slider 14 is pressed into the casing. Cam surface 25 rides along the bridge of lever 18 so that the lever is depressed to lift latch 17 so that tooth 37 is moved out of aperture 30. The plate 12 is prevented from rising with the tooth by T-pieces 27. Ejector spring 20 forces the plate out of the casing. Slider 14 is returned to its normal position by spring 15.

The plate 12 is described above as having one slot 31 and one aperture 30. More than one slot can be provided if desired or the slot could be replaced by a snubbing buckle by means of which the effective length of the safety belt or harness could be adjusted. More than one aperture could be provided if desired to co-operate with a similar number of teeth carried by the latch, or the plate could be provided with notches or teeth on its sides in addition to or instead of the aperture or apertures referred to above, the notches or teeth being engaged by suitably shaped teeth carried by the latch 17.

The latch and lever need not be pivoted in the channel as described above. Either or both could be pivoted in plates at one or both sides of the channel which plates could be held within the casing in any suitable way.

As shown the channel is held within the casing by projections, not shown, which co-operate with suitable indentations in the casing, and slider 14 is held within the casing by the bridge 35 and the vertical face on the slider base at the end of the cam surface 25. Any other suitable means can be provided for holding the channel and slider within the casing.

The micro switch 44 could be arranged if desired to control means to immobilise the vehicle, in any suitable way such as by opening the ignition circuit, as well as or instead of indicating when the buckle parts have been connected.

As described above, the means for connecting the buckle to a vehicle or aircraft comprises a substantially rigid cable 22. The cable 22 could be rigid or flexible, or could be replaced by an extension piece attached directly to the vehicle or via a bracket or other suitable connecting means. When the buckle is used with an adjustable seat, the cable, bracket or other fixing means should be such that the buckle is, or can be, moved as the seat is moved so that the safety belt or harness is correctly positioned on the wearer in all possible positions of the seat.

The plate 12 is described as having a single slot 31 by means of which a safety belt or harness 13 is connected to the plate. More than one slot could be provided, or the slot or slots could be replaced by snubbing buckles to that the effective lengths of the straps of the belt or harness can be adjusted. The straps of the belt or harness remote from the buckle can be connected to fixed or adjustable points on the vehicle or aircraft, or could be connected to suitable retracting means if desired. Suitable weak or deformable parts can be provided in the straps, cable, brackets or other fixing means if desired to absorb part of the stress when the belt or barness is subjected to severe strain, as might occur in an accident.

1 claim:

1. A quick release buckle for use with a safety belt or harness on a vehicle, comprising two separable parts held together by cooperating aperture and latch means, one of said parts including a casing having a top, bottom and sides and an entrance slot in one end thereof, means on the other end of the casing for attachment therefore to a raod vehicle or aircraft and the like, a channel member mounted in the casing having upstanding sides, a slide member slidably mounted in the casing, said slide member having one end portion extended axially outwardly of said one end of said casing and having a sloping cam surface on a lower surface portion thereof in the casing, first spring means engaged with the slide member urging it outwardly of the casing, a lever pivotally mounted in the casing, said lever having a cam engaging bridge spaced on one side of the pivot axis of the lever and latch engaging means spaced on the other side of the pivot axis, a latch pivotally mounted in the casing, said latch including a latching projection on one end thereof spaced from the pivot axis of the latch and lever engaging means spaced from the latching projection, second spring means in the casing engaged with the latch urging the latch into latching position, a plate having at least one aperture therethrough and having means on one end thereof for attachment thereto of at least one safety belt and the like, said plate having a size such as to be capable of insertion into the slot in the casing and into a position with the latching projection of the latch engaged in the aperture of the plate to prevent withdrawal of the plate from the casing, said slide member movable inwardly of the casing against the urging of the first spring means into a position with the cam surface thereon engaged with the bridge of the lever to pivot the lever whereby the lever engages and pivots the latch out of latching engagement with the plate, and ejection spring means in the casing engageable with the plate to eject the plate outwardly of the casing when the plate is unlatched.

2. A buckle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slide member forms part of the surface of the buckle adjacent the slot when the two parts are latched together, such that the one end portion of the slide member can be engaged and moved by hand from that position into a position in which the two parts of the buckle can be separated.

3. A buckle as claimed in claim 1 in which a switch is provided for operating signal or immobilising equipment when the two parts are not connected.

4. A quick release buckle for use with a safety belt or harness on a vehicle, comprising two separable parts held together by cooperating aperture and latch means, one of said parts including a casing having a top, bottom and sides and an entrance slot in one end thereof, means on the other end of the casing for attachment thereto to a road vehicle or aircraft and the like, a channel member mounted in the casing having upstanding sides and inturned flanges on upper edge portions of the sides, a slide member slidably mounted in the casing on the flanges of the channel member, said slide member having one end portion extended axially outwardly of said one end of said casing and having a sloping cam surface on a lower surface portion thereof in the casing, first spring means engaged with the slide member urging it outwardly of the casing, a lever pivotally mounted to the channel member in the casing and having opposite, axially aligned pivot projections engaged in pivot openings in the upturned sides of the channel member, said lever having a cam engaging bridge spaced on one side of the pivot axis of the lever and latch engaging means spaced on the other side of the pivot axis, a latch pivotally mounted to the channel member in the casing and having oppositely directed pivot projections engaged in pivot openings in the upturned sides of the channel member, said latch further including a latching projection on one end thereof spaced from the pivot axis of the latch and lever engaging means between the pivot axis and latching projection, second spring means in the casing engaged with the latch urging the latch into latching position, a plate having at least one aperture therethrough and having means on one end thereof for attachment thereto of at least one safety belt and the like, said plate having a size such as to be capable of insertion into the slot in the casing and into a position with the latching projection of the latch engaged in the aperture of the plate to prevent withdrawal of the plate from the casing, said slide member movable inwardly of the casing against the urging of the first spring means into engagement of the cam surface thereon with the bridge of the lever to pivot the lever whereby the lever engages and pivots the latch out of latching engagement with the plate, and ejection spring means in the casing engageable with the plate to eject the plate outwardly of the casing when the plate is unlatched.

5. A buckle as claimed in claim 4, in which a switch is provided for operating signal or immobilizing equipment when the two parts are not connected.

6. A buckle as claimed in claim 2 in which a switch is provided for operating signal or immobilising equipment when the two parts are not connected. 

1. A quick release buckle for use with a safety belt or harness on a vehicle, comprising two separable parts held together by cooperating aperture and latch means, one of said parts including a casing having a top, bottom and sides and an entrance slot in one end thereof, means on the other end of the casing for attachment therefore to a raod vehicle or aircraft and the like, a channel member mounted in the casing having upstanding sides, a slide member slidably mounted in the casing, said slide member having one end portion extended axially outwardly of said one end of said casing and having a sloping cam surface on a lower surface portion thereof in the casing, first spring means engaged with the slide member urging it outwardly of the casing, a lever pivotally mounted in the casing, said lever having a cam engaging bridge spaced on one side of the pivot axis of the lever and latch engaging means spaced on the other side of the pivot axis, a latch pivotally mounted in the casing, said latch including a latching projection on one end thereof spaced from the pivot axis of the latch and lever engaging means spaced from the latching projection, second spring means in the casing engaged with the latch urging the latch into latching position, a plate having at least one aperture therethrough and having means on one end thereof for attachment thereto of at least one safety belt and the like, said plate having a size such as to be capable of insertion into the slot in the casing and into a position with the latching projection of the latch engaged in the aperture of the plate to prevent withdrawal of the plate from the casing, said slide member movable inwardly of the casing against the urging of the first spring means into a position with the cam surface thereon engaged with the bridge of the lever to pivot the lever whereby the lever engages and pivots the latch out of latching engagement with the plate, and ejection spring means in the casing engageable with the plate to eject the plate outwardly of the casing when the plate is unlatched.
 2. A buckle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slide member forms part of the surface of the buckle adjacent the slot when the two parts are latched together, such that the one end portion of the slide member can be engaged and moved by hand from that position into a position in which the two parts of the buckle can be separated.
 3. A buckle as claimed in claim 1 in which a switch is provided for operating signal or immobilising equipment when the two parts are not connected.
 4. A quick release buckle for use with a safety belt or harness on a vehicle, comprising two separable parts held together by cooperating aperture and latch means, one of said parts including a casing having a top, bottom and sides and an entrance slot in one end thereof, means on the other end of the casing for attachment thereto to a road vehicle or aircraft and the like, a channel member mounted in the casing having upstanding sides and inturned flanges on upper edge portions of the sides, a slide member slidably mounted in the casing on the flanges of the channel member, said slide member having one end portion extended axially outwardly of said one end of said casing and having a sloping cam surface on a lower surface portion thereof in the casing, first spring means engaged with the slide member urging it outwardly of the casing, a lever pivotally mounted to the channel member in the casing and having opposite, axially aligned pivot projections engaged in pivot openings in the upturned sides of the channel member, said lever having a cam engaging bridge spaced on one side of the pivot axis of the lever and latch engaging means spaced on the other side of the pivot axis, a latch pivotally mounted to the channel member in the casing and having oppositely directEd pivot projections engaged in pivot openings in the upturned sides of the channel member, said latch further including a latching projection on one end thereof spaced from the pivot axis of the latch and lever engaging means between the pivot axis and latching projection, second spring means in the casing engaged with the latch urging the latch into latching position, a plate having at least one aperture therethrough and having means on one end thereof for attachment thereto of at least one safety belt and the like, said plate having a size such as to be capable of insertion into the slot in the casing and into a position with the latching projection of the latch engaged in the aperture of the plate to prevent withdrawal of the plate from the casing, said slide member movable inwardly of the casing against the urging of the first spring means into engagement of the cam surface thereon with the bridge of the lever to pivot the lever whereby the lever engages and pivots the latch out of latching engagement with the plate, and ejection spring means in the casing engageable with the plate to eject the plate outwardly of the casing when the plate is unlatched.
 5. A buckle as claimed in claim 4, in which a switch is provided for operating signal or immobilizing equipment when the two parts are not connected.
 6. A buckle as claimed in claim 2 in which a switch is provided for operating signal or immobilising equipment when the two parts are not connected. 